Refrigerating unit



Feb. 14, 1933. M. R. KARGE REFRIGERATING UNIT Filed Feb. 8, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOR MAM/ELL MFG-FE Feb. 14, 1933. M. R. KARGEREFRIGERATING UNIT Filed Feb. 8, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JINVENTORZ/fiXk/ELL l? flames ARN'EY Patented Feb. 14, 1933 1 m'ran STATES-IAXWELL 13'; KABGE, F BROCKPOBT, NEW YORK I BEFBAIGEBATING UNITApplication filed February 8, 1932. Serial No. 591,550.

This invention relates to refrigerating units and has for its object toprovide a new and improved construction for such a unit which will inakeit highly eflicient in operation and compact in construction.

A further object of thisinvention is to so construct the refrigeratingunit that it can be mounted on any refrigerator compartment in anyrefrigerating compartment, thus eliminating costly assembly andinstallation work and adjustment of the. refrigerating unit outside ofthe factory.

Another object of the invention is to combine the com ressor, condenserand evaporator into a sel supporting unit with the evaporator formingthe supporting member;

Another object of this invention is to so construct the unit thattheevaporator forms a single pivotal support for the compressor andcondenser.

Another object of this invention is to construct the unit so that theconnecting member between the compressor, condenserand evaporator isformed by the crank case of the compressor.

Another object of the invention is to con struct the unit so that theaxis of rotation of the crank shaft of the compressor is inv line withthe single pivotal support of the unit with the crank shaft locatedclose to the support in order to eliminate as much as possible anyvibration of the unit during the operation thereof.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the unit that theelectric motor for the operation thereof may be adjustably mounted onthe condenser thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide the evaporator with aseries of cooling fins which are removably attached thereto.

Another object of this invention is to taper the cooling fins towardtheperiphery thereof to hasten the melting the defrosting period.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the unit that theoperating cycle of the cooling medium automatically balances itselfbetween its high and low pressure.

of the ice crust during Another object of the invention is to provide anovel compressor construction having a plston which cooperates with acontinuous 1ntake in the cylinder in order to provide a W constant andefiicient compression of the cooling medium.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide the valves of thecompressor of the unit with soft metallic seats in order to balance theoperation thereof.

Another'object of the invention 'is to pro vide the crank shaft of thecompressor with a novel single bearing.

-Another object of the invention is to pro vide the evaporator tube withnovel clamp ing means which permit a quick and easy. mounting of thetube in the wall of a refrigerator compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide the evaporator tube'withnovel clamping means with which the removable fins are firmly clamped inplace on the periphery thereof.

. Another object of this invention is to so attach the condenser to thecrank case of the compressor that part of the heat given ofi b thecondenser Wlll keep the lubricating oil in the crank case ina fluidstate.

All these and other objects of the invenrefrigerating unit and a portionof the com- 5 partment on which it is installed, the section being takenon the line2al*2a: of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view. of the I evaporating tube, thesection being taken on the ine 3a 3a: of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the compressor cylinder, thesection being taken on the line 4004m of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the cylinder andpiston-of the compressor of the refrigerating unit.

Figure 6 is an end elevation of a modified form of the cooling fins.

, Figure 7 is a view in elevation of a modified form of therefrigerating unit.

In the several figures of the drawings like reference numerals indicatelike parts.

The refrigerating unit forming the subject matter of my presentinvention comprises acombination of a novel compressor,

condenser and evaporator which are rigidly mounted and connectedtogether in such a manner that the unit operates at a high efficiencyand can be completely assembled, adjusted and tested at the factory andshipped in its finished state to be installed at its destination for anytype of refrigeration at a minimum cost and labor.

The cooling medium used in the refrigerator is preferably ammoniabecause of its low boiling point and consequently higher efficiencycompared with other cooling mediums.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the compressor has its cylinder 1mounted on the open to 2 of the hollow cross member 3 which orms thecrank ease for the com- 'pressor. In the open side 4 of the hollow crossmember 3 is provided the bearing 5 for the crank shaft 6. On theinnerend of the crank shaft 6, within the hollow cross membar 3, is providedthe crank 7 and on the outer end'of the crank shaft ismounted the pulley8 by which the compressor is driven. A connecting rod 9 connects thecrank 7 with the piston 10 which is mounted to reciprocate inthecylinder.

The tubular condenser is mounted in the closed bottom 11 of the crossmember 3 and comprises the tube 12 which is threaded or otherwisefastened into the cross member and depends downwardly therefrom. Withinthe tube 12 is mounted the cooling tube 13 in which circulates thecondensing water as will. hereinafter be described. 7

The tubular evaporator is mounted in the closed side 14 of the crossmember 3 and comprises the tube 15 which is threaded or otherwisefastened into thecross' member 3- either directly or by means of thethreaded connecting member 16. The tubular evaporator provides thesupporting .arm for the refrigerator unit and is adapted to project thrua suitable hole in the wall'17 of the refrigerating compartment 18. Aflange 16 is slidably mounted on the tube 15 and is adapted to restagainst the inside of the wall 17 of the refrigerator compartment. Thiscollar or flange is firmly held against the wall by means of theclamping flange 16A which is rigidly fastened to the evaporator tube ingscrews 166 provided in the clamping flange 16A are then threaded againstthe" flange 16 to force this flange against the wall and hold the tuberigidly in place in the wall. In this'wa the evaporator tube is firmlyanchored in the wall of the refrigerator compartment.

On the tubular evaporator are mounted a series of cooling fins 21, 21.These fins are made up of platemembers having a suitable outline and anopening 22 encircled on each side by a boss 23. The hole 22 and thebosses 23 thus form a short 'sleeve which is made to fit snugly over theperiphery of the evaporator tube to make perfect metal to metalcontactbetween the fins and the tube so as to eliminate any possibleinsulating air space between the fins and the evaporator tube. The finsare preferably cast of aluminum, although other metals may be.

used if found to be desirable. The unequal expansion and contractionbetween steel tube and aluminum is compensated for by making the bossesof the cooling fins, which are of aluminum, of a thickness which willcause wall of the evaporator tube on which the fins are mounted. In thisway the fins provide an eflicient heat conductor for the evaporator tubeat all temperatures.

The fins, as above pointed out, are preferably cast and their-surface isleft rough in order to increase the-radiating surface thereof. If it isdesired to quickly cool a s'olid substance,-a small body of liquid,sem1- liquid or a solid substance, the fins may be provided with anopening 21A as illustrated in Figure 6. The consecutive openlngs in thefins then form a shelf in which a pan.

2113, containing the substance, may be supportedclose to the evaporatortube and in contact with the cooling fins. The sides of the fins taperfrom the spacing bosses to the perimeter thereof so that each fin isthinner at the edge than it is near the evaporator tube. In defrostingthe evaporator, the we then begins to melt first on the edges of the finso that the waterfrom the melted rce on the edges of the fin immediatelybeglns to flow over the remainder of the fins and helps to melt the icefrom the inner surface of the fins.

After all the fins are telescoped over the tubular condenser they areheld in place thereon by means of a suitable locking sleeve 25 which isslidably mounted on the end of the evaporator tube 15. A locking sleeve26A is fastened to the outer end of the evaporator tube15-bv'meansof'suitable set screws 26B and in a flange surrounding thislocking sleeve are provided the clamping screws v 26C which are threadedagainstthe locking flange to force this flange against the last. of thecooling .fins and firmly clamp all of the fins between this flange andthe locking sleeve 16A near the inner end of the evaporator tube. Thelocking sleeve is suspended from the ceiling of the compartment by meansof the hanger 26D to provide additional support for the evaporatorwithin the compartment.

While I have shown and described the evaporator as being supportedwithin a refrigerator compartment, it is understood that the evaporatormay be mounted in a tank for the purpose of cooling a liquid body suchas brine In fact the unit may be used'in any type of refrigeratinginstallation.

The evaporator tube is shown attached to the cross member 3 by means ofthe connecting member 16 which is threaded or otherwise fastened intothe cross member with one end and in turn has the end of the evaporatortube threaded or otherwise fastened into its opposite end. An insulatingwall 28 is formed in the end "of the connecting member 16 in order toreduce to a minimum any absorption of heat by the end of the evaporatorfrom the cross member 3 and the crank case formed by it. As will be seenfrom an inspection of Figure 2, the intake end of the condenser 12 islocated directly below the bottom of the crank case formed by the-crossmember 3, and the ammonia gas, after it has been superheated by thecompressor, enters the condenser tube just below the cross member andgives off enough heat to keep the lupressor thru the pipe line 31 to thecondenser 12 where the superheated ammonia gas is condensed into liquidform by the water column or coil 13 locatedwithin the condenser. Thewater column or coil 13 has the condensing water fed into the bottomthru the inlet 32 and after it has absorbed some of the heat of thesuperheated ammonia gas during the condensing process, leaves the Watercolumn or coil near the top thru the outlet 33. The water from the,g'rondenser is then fed thru the pipe line 34 to the water jacket 35which surrounds the upper portion of the compressor cylinder in order tocarry off some of the heat generated in the compressor cylinder in thecompression of the ammonia gas. The cooling water leaves the waterjacket of which feeds the condensed low pressure ammonia to theevaporator. There the con densed ammonia passes thru the tube 39 withinthe evaporator tube 15 to the far end thereof where it is allowed toenter the evaporator tube to again evaporate and absorb thru the coolingfins 21 any heat contained in the refrigerator compartment 18. In thepipe lines 29 and 38 are provided the union connections 29A'and 38Arespectively.

' These union connections make it possible to disconnect the evaporatortube from the compressor and the condenser so that the evaporator. tubecan be detached from the cross member 3 for shipment The tube,whendisconnected, may befully charged with the. cooling medium so thatwhenit is attached to the cross member and connected by means of theunion connections 29A and sure how the system operates and thethrottlevalve 37 is used to regulate the flow of the ammonia to fix the high andlow pressures depending on the refrigeration needed. The

refrigerating unit is balanced so that the same quantity of evaporatedammonia gas 1s drawn off the evaporator as is fed into it in liquid orcondensed form. v

The refrigerator unit is driven by an electric motor 42 which is mountedon the sliding base 43. This base canbe adjusted up or down on thecondenser tube 12 and fastened thereto by means of suitable set screws44. An

endless belt 45 connects the motor pulley 46 with the compressor pulley8 to operate the compressor.

The length and diameter of the evaporator tube may be increased ordecreased within the capacity of the compressor in order to provide thedesired surface or cooling area fora the condensing water which is fedto the con denser makes it necessary to use a large volume of water Inorder to secure the desired or condenser or both and mount the unit in'the vertical position illustrated in the drawings or in any angular oreven horizontal position. In this way the installation of the unit canbe made to suit any and all conditions. I In Figure 5 I have illustratedin an enlarged detail sectional view the construction of the compressorforming part of the refrigerating unit. As heretofore pointed out,

cation of the piston.

the compressor has a novel piston construction which provides acontinuous intake into the cylinder of the compressor. As illustrated inFigure 5, the piston 10 is provided with an elongated open chamber andthe intake 30 in. the cylinder of the compressor is located withrelation to this chamber in the piston so that the ammonia gas from theevaporator can enter thru the intake 30 into the chamber 50 withoutinterruption during the recipro- The chamber in the piston is thusconstantly filled with ammonia gas from the evaporator and on thesuction stroke of the piston this gas is forced thru the poppet valve 51carried in the top of the piston 10. The valve-51 is located directlyabove the piston chamber and its valve stem 52 is mounted and guided ina suitable valve guide 53 provided in the piston chamber.

The upper portion of the cylinder 1 is slightly enlarged and in thelower end of this enlarged section is provided the concentric valveseat54'on which the disc valve 55 is ada ted to be seated. The discvalve is normaliy held seated on the valve seat by means of the valvespring 56 which is located between the top of the valve and the end ofthe cylinder.

In the wall of the enlarged section of the cylinder are provided theby-pass channels 57 thru which the ammon a gas passes from the underside of the disc valve to the upper side thereof after entering thecylinder thru the piston valve 51. As heretofore pointed out, therefrigerator system is regulated by means of the throttle valve 37 inthe pipe line 38 connecting the condenser with the evaporator and thisregulation secures a difference in the pressures in theevaporator on oneside and the condenser and com ressor on the other side. The pres-,.sure in t e evaporator is thus comparatively low and may be, forexample, 15 pounds pressure, while at the same time the pressure in thecompressor. and condenser would be about 150 pounds pressure. The valvespring 58, surrounding the valve stem 52 of the piston valve 51, isadjusted so that the low pressure gas admitted into the piston chamberwill 0 en the valve and allow the gas to enter t e cylinder to becompressed therein above the-disc valve 55.

For the purpose of silencing the operation of the piston and'disc valveprovided in the cylinder, the valve seat surrounding the valve 51 isformed of a soft metallic or nonmetallic ring seat 59. An aluminum seathas been found to be very practical for this purpose. In the disc valve55 the bottom thereof is provided with a soft metallic seat member 60which seats itself on the seat 54.

The crank shaft assembly is provided with a bearing on but one side ofthe crank case.

This makes it necessary to provide the crank shaft with a hearing whichgives the shaft a large bearing surface. As illustrated in section inFigure 2, the crank shaft 6 is made up by having the crank disc 7 shrunkthereon and the crank pin 6B shrunkinto the crank disc. The'shrink fitof the crank disc and the crank pin is reinforced by a tapered pin 60which passes thru the crank disc and the crank and crank pin shrunk intoit. Lock nuts 6D lock the tapered pin 6G in place in the crank disc.Also shrunk onto the crank shaft 6 is the collar 6E and the portion ofthe shaft between the crank disc and collar is'mounted to rotate in thebabbittbearing 5. A cup washer 6F surrounds and overhangs the collar 6Eand keeps the inner packing disc 6G from frictional contact with thecollar. A second babbitt bearing 6H surrounds the outer end of the crankshaft 6 and is formed in the packing gland 6I which holds the packingdiscs in place between the two bearings. The complete crank shaft andbearing assembly is mounted in the bearing support 5A so that thecomplete crank shaft assembly can be lipdily removed from the crank casetherewit In Figure 7 I have illustrated the refrigerating unit for usein an expansion cooling s stem. In this modified form of the unit, t ecompressor is mounted on top of a T connection 61, while the condenser62 is attached to the side of this connection and projects laterallytherefrom. A tubular reservoir or expansion tank 63 is attached to thebottom of the T connection'in such a way that the condensed ammonia fromthe condenser will flow into the reservoir or expansion tank andaccumulate therein.

The motor 64 for driving the compressor is mounted on a sliding base 65which in turn is adjustably mounted on the condenser 62. Therefrigerating unit is supported by a suitable base or flange 66 which isfastened to the'expansion tank 63.

-I claim: u

1. A refrigerating unit including a compressor and a condenser attachedthereto, an

evaporator projecting laterally from said combined compressor andcondenser and forming asupporting member therefor.

2. In a refrigerating unit the combination of a compressor having acrank case, a condenser mounted on said crank case in a vertical planeto said compressor and a supporting member extending laterally of saidcom- 'pressor and condenser to support said compressor and condenserintermediate the ends thereof.

3. 'A refrigerating unit comprising a connecting member, a compressormounted on said connecting member and extending in one direction, acondenser mounted on said connecting member and extending in anotherdi-' rection and an evaporator mounted on said connecting member andextending therefrom between said compressor and condenser.

- 4. A refrigerating unit comprising a hollow connecting member forminga crank case, a compressor mounted on top of said crank case, acondenser suspended from the bottom of said connecting member and anevaporator projecting from the side of said connecting, member. i

5. A refrigerating unit comprising a compressor, condenser andevaporator, a T- shaped connectingmember rigidly and angularlyconnecting said compressor, condenser and evaporator w1th relatlon'toeachi 7 other,

6. A refrigerating unit comprising 'a compressor, a condenser suspendedfrom the bottom of said compressor, an evaporator tube rigidly connectedto said compressor and condenser and projecting laterally therefromclamping means provided on said evaporator tube for clampingsaidevaporator tube in a horizontal position and supporting saidcompressor and condenser angularly thereto. s i 7. A refrigerating unitadapted to be suspended on a wall and comprisinga compres sor, a'condenser suspended'from said compressor, an evaporator tube connectedto said compressor and condenser intermedlate thereof and adapted toproject thru said Wall, a series of cooling fins removably attached tothe surface of said evaporator tube on one side of'the wall andsupporting means for supporting said compressor and condenser on theother side of the wall.

8. In a refrigerating unitthe combination of a compressona condensertube supported on said compressor, and a motor slidably ing saidcompressor.

' 9'. In a refrigerating unit the combination of a compressor having acrank case containing lubricating oil, a condenser tube having itsintake end attached to the bottom of said crank case to Warm the bottom'of said crank case and the lubricating oil located above it.

10. A refrigerating unit comprising a holmounted on said condenser tubefor operatnec'aecr low cross member forming a crank case, a compressorhaving a crank and crank shaft mounted to one end of said cross memberwith its crank located within said cross mem-- her, a condenser mountedto said cross memher at the end opposite to said compressor and in linetherewith,' an evaporator tube mounted to said cross member to one ofthe ends intermediate of said compressor and condenser and at rightangles thereto, said crank shaft of said compressor being mounted torotate in said cross member in the end opposite to said evaporator tube.

11. Ina refrigerating unit the combination of a compressor having acrank case, an evaporator projecting from said crank case to have saidcrank case form the connecting member between sald compressor and saidevaporator.

, 12. In a refrigeratlng unit the combination of a compressor having acrank case, an evaporator tube rigidly mounted on said crank case atright angles to said compressor to provide a supporting arm for saidcompressor and its crank case and an insulating wall said crankcase.

13. In a refrigerating unit adapted to be supported on a wall thecombination of a compressor, anevaporator tube rigidly connected to saidcompressor and forming a supporting arm therefor, said evaporator tubebeing adapted to project thru said wall and clamping means provided onsaid evaporator tube to clamp said evaporator tube in place in said wallwith the evaporator tube pro jecting from the inside of the vvall andthe compressor'located on the outside of the walk 14. In a refrigeratingunit the combination of a connectlng member, a compressor mountbetweenthe end of said evaporator tube and ed on top of said connecting member,a condenser mounted to project laterally from said connecting member anda liquid receiver attached to the bottom of said connecting \member anda motor mounted on said condenser for operating said compressor.

15. In a refrigeratmg un tthe combina' tron of a connecting member, acompressor mounted on top of said connecting member,

a liquid receiver mounted to the bottom of said connecting member andprovidin a support for said connecting member, an a condenser mounted onsaid connecting member and projecting laterally therefrom between saidcompressor and liquid receiver.

16. In a refrigerating unit the combina= 'tion of a T connecting member,a compressor type anchoring means provided on said evaporator forfixedly mounting said evaporator and a compressor mounted to the endofthe evaporator and fixedly supported thereby.-

118. In a refrigerating unit the combination of a tubular condenser,anchoring means associated with said condenser for fixedly mounting saidcondenser and a compressor mounted to the end of said condenser and 10fixedly supported thereby.

19. In a refrigerating unit the combination of a vertical tubularcondenser,a compressor mounted on top of said condenser and a horizontaltubular evaporator projecting laterally from said condenser below saidcompressor.

20. In a refrigerating .unit the combination of a hollow crank case,four supporting sockets provided in the wall of said crank 2 case, acompressor cylinder mounted in one of said sockets, a connecting rodbearing provided in another of said sockets, an evaporator mounted inthe third of said sockets and a condenser mounted in the fourth of saidsockets.

21. In a refrigerating unit the combina; tion of a central connectinmember, a compressor, a condenser an an evaporatorv mounted on saidcentral connecting member and radially projecting therefrom.

22. In a refrigerating unit the combination of a compressor, aconnecting member having an insulating chamber at one end and aconnecting chamber at the other end, said connecting member with itsinsulating cham ber being attached to said compressor and an evaporatormounted to said connecting chamber.

23. In a refrigerating unit a compressor and condenser rigidly connectedend to-end and a pivotal supporting member projecting laterally fromsaid compressor and condenser for supporting said compressor andcondenser in a vertical plane.

24. A refrigerator unit comprising a selfcontained compressor unit, atubular self contained evaporator unit supportably attached to saidcompressor unit with one end thereof so as to be individually removabletherefrom, and a tubular selfcontained condenser unit supportablyattached to said compressor unit with one end thereof so as to beindividually removable therefrom.

25. A refrigerator unit comprisin a selfcontained compressor unit, atubuIar selfcontained evaporator unit supportably attachedto saidcompressor with one end there of so as to be individually removablethere from, a tubular selfcontained condenserunit supportably attachedto said compressor unit with one end thereof so as to be individuallyremovable therefrom and a motor unit supportably attached to saidrefrigerator unit so as to be individuall removable therefrom.

MAX LL R. KARGE.

